Trout Lake Canoe 5

The Good: Camped at one of the Grousehaven sites for 2 nights. One of the littles got pulled over by the patrolling DNR for riding their bike and wearing their helmet and was given a ticket of safety for a free ice cream at McDonalds. The road through the park is paved with some tight spots depending on how people park. The site was nice with a big firepit and handicapped picnic table and what loo... The Good: Camped at one of the Grousehaven sites for 2 nights. One of the littles got pulled over by the patrolling DNR for riding their bike and wearing their helmet and was given a ticket of safety for a free ice cream at McDonalds. The road through the park is paved with some tight spots depending on how people park. The site was nice with a big firepit and handicapped picnic table and what looked like a new power post at the site I was at. The park was very packed when we were there and it was still enjoyable. I went with family and they had their own camper on the site next to me and the park let me turn my small popup around so our doors faced each other kind of making it a group site (It does not seem they care how you park your rig but I called and asked first). There was a couple communal water spigots around the park that seemed to be kept clean. The beach is average size with a handicapped plastic mat that goes from the grass all the way into the water for wheelchairs and anything else with wheels. The swimming area does not go out too far since there is a drop-off that is marked with buoys. The water was clean with no trash in the water and on the beach. There is a huge area to run around and chill with a swing set play area. There was a mystery PVC pipe with what I hope is clean water draining out right onto the beach area. The trash area was big with 3 big dumpsters and lots of parking with a trailhead near by. There is signing in the park to direct you to where you need to go to find your site. There were trails all over the place but I did not go in them.

One of, if not the absolute best state park campgrounds I have ever been to. The scenery is gorgeous, the facilities are clean, and the staff is incredibly friendly. Plus, the tahquamenon river runs just behind the vault, and the wildlife is so entertaining to watch. I visited in early spring this past year and was only one of TWO people that braved the bitter cold and snow storm. I am not even ki... One of, if not the absolute best state park campgrounds I have ever been to. The scenery is gorgeous, the facilities are clean, and the staff is incredibly friendly. Plus, the tahquamenon river runs just behind the vault, and the wildlife is so entertaining to watch. I visited in early spring this past year and was only one of TWO people that braved the bitter cold and snow storm. I am not even kidding 12 ish inches fell overnight my first day there and the staff was so quick to come through and plow, not to mention check on me multiple times to make sure I was okay (as it was bitter cold the week I stayed). The only thing I would keep in mind if you are staying winter through spring is that the main restroom building is still closed then, so you’ll have to use the vault. Regardless of that, I couldn’t recommend this campground more.

The Tahquamenon Falls State Park is a 46,179 acre public recreation area and is the second largest of Michigan's state parks. The park borders Lake Superior and follows the Tahquamenon River as it passes over Tahquamenon Falls and drains into Whitefish Bay, Lake Superior. The Tahquamenon Falls include a single 50-foot drop, the Upper Falls, plus the cascades and rapids collectively called the Lowe... The Tahquamenon Falls State Park is a 46,179 acre public recreation area and is the second largest of Michigan's state parks. The park borders Lake Superior and follows the Tahquamenon River as it passes over Tahquamenon Falls and drains into Whitefish Bay, Lake Superior. The Tahquamenon Falls include a single 50-foot drop, the Upper Falls, plus the cascades and rapids collectively called the Lower Falls. During the late-spring runoff, the river drains as much as 50,000 U.S. gallons of water per second, making the upper falls the second most voluminous vertical waterfall east of the Mississippi River, after only Niagara Falls (Wikipedia). Incredibly beautiful views of nature throughout. Thought about hiking up the River Trail until we saw how rugged the terrain was to include a 2.5 hour average hike time with poison ivy along the way. See attached photo of the warning sign.

Nice quiet state park. Drive a few miles to Paradise for breakfast or dinner if you're not cooking your own. About 20 miles on a nice road to Whitefish Point, or drive to the Lower and Upper Falls. By the way, the State did a great job with the mostly boarded and cool bridge at the Lower Falls. Now you can get right close to the water with all kinds of views. But read the signs. We saw some really... Nice quiet state park. Drive a few miles to Paradise for breakfast or dinner if you're not cooking your own. About 20 miles on a nice road to Whitefish Point, or drive to the Lower and Upper Falls. By the way, the State did a great job with the mostly boarded and cool bridge at the Lower Falls. Now you can get right close to the water with all kinds of views. But read the signs. We saw some really stupid people climb over the fence to go into the water. They could have been swept away so easy and been a fatality. Don't pet the Bison mentality. The River mouth camping has kayak rentals for $25 a day. We stayed where we had electricity. There's no water at the sites but you get your water filled at the entrance. There is a fantastic part of the park right on the river if you can go without juice and the showers close by. Bigger lots and wooded. The rangers here are super friendly and helpful. I saw a ranger drive into the woods to give some young people a jump for their dead battery.

We camped here for two nights in the primitive campground. This is a wonderful gem of a campground. The sites are well-spaced, the trees are large, the ground is flat, the views of the forest and river are really beautiful. There are many water spigots and pit toilets and everything is clean and well maintained. There is a fishing deck and kayak rental, and lots of put ins for small watercraft. Ev... We camped here for two nights in the primitive campground. This is a wonderful gem of a campground. The sites are well-spaced, the trees are large, the ground is flat, the views of the forest and river are really beautiful. There are many water spigots and pit toilets and everything is clean and well maintained. There is a fishing deck and kayak rental, and lots of put ins for small watercraft. Everyone is welcome to use the modern facilities in the electric campground, and there are parking spaces if you prefer to drive instead of walk. Showers are one room stalls. The bathrooms were very clean. I wish the water was hotter for my showers, but it was warm enough to get clean in. Staff were extremely kind and knowledgeable. Firewood was kiln dried, burned very well, and reasonably priced at $6/bundle.

Use caution kayaking this part of the Rifle River! In August, this part of the river is dangerous! (I cannot speak to early summer months) I do not recommend this for children or anyone not in top physical condition. It really is only appropriate for advanced kayakers. We went on a 12 mile kayak trip. The water was shallow (6" in a lot of places), full of large rocks, trees and branches and the cu... Use caution kayaking this part of the Rifle River! In August, this part of the river is dangerous! (I cannot speak to early summer months) I do not recommend this for children or anyone not in top physical condition. It really is only appropriate for advanced kayakers. We went on a 12 mile kayak trip. The water was shallow (6" in a lot of places), full of large rocks, trees and branches and the current was strong. There was very little time to relax on the river as we spent all our time dodging obstacles. We tipped over many times, and it was a struggle to hold on to the kayak, paddle, and flotation device while the current was pulling them all away and we were tripping over the rocks. On top of all that, one of the kayaks had a leak. We finally had to pull it up on a bank and drain it as it wouldn't go 30 feet without getting stuck. There were no put-in or take-out points between the time they dropped us off until we reached their landing 12 miles later. I am so grateful no one was badly hurt, as it would have been problematic to get an ambulance anywhere near us on the river. We were also the only ones on the river, so no one would have been around to help in an emergency. I will never kayak this part of the Rifle again.

Although we found the people very friendly and had a great time tubing with family, we cannot recommend this place. The river was way too shallow to be enjoyable. Most of the tubes were covered in mildew and dirt. But the worst and most dangerous part was where they dropped us off for the 3 hour trip. We had to walk about 100- 125 feet through waist high weeds and LOTS of poison ivy, sharp sticks... Although we found the people very friendly and had a great time tubing with family, we cannot recommend this place. The river was way too shallow to be enjoyable. Most of the tubes were covered in mildew and dirt. But the worst and most dangerous part was where they dropped us off for the 3 hour trip. We had to walk about 100- 125 feet through waist high weeds and LOTS of poison ivy, sharp sticks and old rusty metal posts sticking up jaggedly from the ground. The trail was wet and had a steep slope. It was not a safe location for a group to walk. Anyone who is a bit unstable would have a very tough time getting through there.

I really don’t recommend this place! It’s dirty, sketchy and they gave us a kayak with a hole in it that was sinking and we were stranded. They were dirty and you have to drag your own kayak down an over grown trail. Thank god after walking/swimming for an hour we found a house and luckily someone was home who could help us, We wasted hours and she wouldn’t refund us. There are definitely better p... I really don’t recommend this place! It’s dirty, sketchy and they gave us a kayak with a hole in it that was sinking and we were stranded. They were dirty and you have to drag your own kayak down an over grown trail. Thank god after walking/swimming for an hour we found a house and luckily someone was home who could help us, We wasted hours and she wouldn’t refund us. There are definitely better places in the area!